Chapter 33: Zhu Ying

"The Duke of Song is absolutely right."

"This Li Tao's actions are truly despicable."

"If Zhu Ying had truly fallen into a heavy encirclement and been unable to return, then this subordinate would have truly believed Li Tao's words—that Zhu Ying was headstrong and refused to listen to advice."

"But now, through Zhu Ying's battle results, one can see that Li Tao is defying military orders and is afraid of death."

"This subordinate believes he should be severely punished," Bu Wan said immediately.

"This Li Tao is a member of the Daning border army and a subordinate of Prefect Bu; handle the matter as you see fit." Feng Sheng nodded and said no more.

He was just a minor Battalion Commander, so naturally, Feng Sheng would not pay him too much attention.

"This subordinate obeys." Bu Wan accepted the order immediately.

"Prefect Bu."

"Tell me about the defensive situation in Daning Prefecture." Feng Sheng asked with a smile.

"Reporting to the Duke."

"Previously, when we struck north against the Tatars, our fifty thousand Daning border troops were divided into two routes: twenty thousand marched north to strike the Tatars and ensure the peace of Daning Prefecture, while thirty thousand border troops remained to garrison Daning Prefecture and thoroughly eradicate the banditry within the prefecture's territory."

"Now that the Northern Yuan has come to attack, their vanguard army has already begun to assault Huizhoucheng, with a force of no less than fifty thousand."

Bu Wan reported the current troop strength and defensive situation of Daning Prefecture to Feng Sheng.

Of course.

During the reporting process, Bu Wan also became much more relaxed.

Before Feng Sheng arrived.

The safety of Daning Prefecture and the blame for any failure rested entirely on him; once Daning Prefecture truly suffered some mishap and was breached by the Yuan court, his culpability would be immense.

But now that Feng Sheng had arrived, all military affairs were under his command, and the troops of all the prefectures were under Feng Sheng's coordination, so naturally, this could no longer be blamed on Bu Wan.

"Mm."

"With the defense of the Daning Prefecture troops, it is enough to hold out until my army of two hundred thousand arrives."

"Besides that."

"The surprise attack strategy proposed by Zhu Ying, using over ten thousand troops to raid Liaodong."

"This might also have some effect."

"For now, the situation should still be focused on defense," Feng Sheng said in a deep voice.

"The Grand General is wise."

The generals said in unison.

"Alright."

"Transmit my order."

"Urge the armies on all routes to accelerate their marching speed."

"Within ten days, all troops must converge at Huizhou; if they cannot arrive within ten days, I will punish them for delaying military operations," Feng Sheng said to the generals in the hall.

"This subordinate obeys."

The generals said in unison.

"Also."

"Submit a report to Ying Tian, informing the Emperor that I have arrived in Ying Tian smoothly and have already begun preparations for the campaign to annihilate Nahachu."

"Ask the Emperor to rest assured."

"Besides that."

"Report the military merits and battle results of Daning Prefecture as well, especially Zhu Ying's merit in breaking the Tatar tribe and the fighting prowess of our Daning border army," Feng Sheng instructed his personal guard beside him.

"This subordinate obeys," the commander of the personal guard said immediately.

"Now we just wait for the main army to arrive, and we can switch from defense to offense."

"Nahachu."

"The Emperor bestowed grace upon him in the past, yet this person does not think of the Emperor's grace."

"Now it is time to resolve this," a hint of severity flashed in Feng Sheng's eyes.

He had come specifically for the purpose of eradicating Nahachu.

Northern frontier, within the territory of the Jianzhou Tatars!

"Report."

"Reporting to the Garrison Commander."

"Traces of Tatar cavalry have been discovered three li to the rear."

"They seem to be following our army's hoofprints."

"At the fastest, they will engage our army within the time it takes to burn a stick of incense; please decide, Garrison Commander."

Liu Lei rode over and reported loudly.

"How many troops do the Tatars have?" Zhu Ying asked immediately.

"Fortunately, the Garrison Commander previously instructed us to deliberately leave hoofprints towards the east and west, so the Tatars' tracking was disrupted; this batch of Tatar troops does not exceed five thousand."

"However, my subordinate has not been able to scout exactly how many troops the Tatars have dispatched to pursue us," Liu Lei reported respectfully.

"Although the Tatars are a nation of soldiers, they still have great precautions against our Great Ming, so it is impossible for them to pour out their entire force in pursuit."

"Moreover, the Tatars are not all cavalry; it would be impressive if their entire tribe had over twenty thousand cavalry, and that is only because they have their own horse pastures," Zhu Ying smiled faintly, not panicking at all upon hearing of the Tatar raid.

"Garrison Commander."

"What shall we do next?"

The Battalion Commanders also gathered around, looking at Zhu Ying with anticipation.

Last night's raid on the camp was a success, and four thousand soldiers returned without a single casualty.

This made every soldier hold Zhu Ying in awe.

Zhu Ying glanced at the direction from which the Tatars were coming, a coldness rising on his face: "Naturally, we will leave them all behind."

"Everyone, do you dare to fight with me?"

Zhu Ying smiled coldly and drew the long saber at his side.

"We swear to follow the Garrison Commander to the death."

The Battalion Commanders said in unison.

"Mount up."

Zhu Ying laughed, flipped onto his horse immediately.

The surrounding soldiers also flipped onto their horses one after another.

"Brothers."

"We have eaten our fill and rested."

"But now we are in the land of barbarians; the slightest oversight will lead to total destruction."

"Scouts report that the Tatar cavalry is about to catch up."

"If you want to live, if you want to go home, you must slaughter them all."

"Brothers, do you dare to follow me, Zhu Ying, to face the Tatars?"

"To slaughter the invaders?" Zhu Ying looked around and shouted loudly.

"We swear to follow the Garrison Commander to the death."

Four thousand soldiers shouted in unison.

Their will was united, and their killing intent soared to the heavens.

"Good."

"The wounded soldiers will hold the rear; all soldiers, center yourselves on me, form an offensive formation, prepare bows and arrows."

Zhu Ying shouted loudly.

Four thousand cavalrymen moved their horses, dispersing by battalion, distributing themselves around Zhu Ying, each drawing their bows and arrows, forming an offensive formation.

After a moment had passed.

In the distance.

Bursts of thundering sounds rolled in.

One could see many Tatar cavalrymen wearing leather armor and carrying long spears rapidly pursuing.

As they drew closer and closer.

The leading Tatar general also discovered the Ming cavalry arrayed in front.

"The Ming army is right ahead."

"Lads."

"These damned Ming soldiers slaughtered our tribesmen and destroyed our tribe."

"Kill them all."

"Scouts, turn around immediately to report to the Ten-Thousand Commander, ask the Ten-Thousand Commander to quickly dispatch troops to surround the Ming army."

"Kill..."

The Tatar general roared.

Directing the army to charge like a wild wave.

Of course.

In their own Tatar territory, having dispatched ten thousand troops to pursue, as long as they could pin down the Ming army in front, they could annihilate them completely.

"Tatars."

Zhu Ying spat out the two words coldly.

His hand was already gripping the Precious Carved Bow.

Five arrows were already nocked on the bow.

With his current strength of nearly a thousand jin, the Precious Carved Bow was easily pulled into a full moon.

The soldiers behind Zhu Ying to his left and right also drew their bows, waiting for their Garrison Commander's signal.

Finally!

When the Tatar cavalry charged and were less than a hundred paces away.

"Kill!"

Zhu Ying shouted loudly.

The sound was like a thunderclap, echoing through this northern frontier land.

The arrows in his hand immediately flew from the string.

Head-on.

Five arrows flew through the air.

The five Tatars charging at the very front had no reaction; their leather armor was instantly pierced, and all five were penetrated and fell under their horses.

"Killed a Tatar cavalryman, scavenged 20 points of Strength."

"Killed a Tatar cavalryman, scavenged 20 points of Constitution."

"Killed a Tatar cavalryman..."

PS: My darlings, follow-up reading is very important, please keep reading, thank you.

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(End of chapter)